The Refinery

The Refinery is amazing, and surprising and even, well dare I say it... sometimes challenging. In the new Gastro-Pub trend (an unassuming bar that serves gourmet cuisine to compliment fine beers) the Refinery has won just about every local award, and also been nominated for national awards (the prestigious James Beard Award, and also Zagat.) Would you guess that pedigree when you first walked in? No. It's totally casual. The owners have tattoos, and one of them is the head chef. Now, while the beer, service and food is generally awesome, there is a other side to this coin; this place has become popular. Sometimes the place is packed. Also, defying all that most restaurants stand by, the Refinery changes the menu EVERY WEEK. Yes I said it.... they change the menu every week, and don't take custom orders. Absolutely brilliant and occasionally frustrating when I find something that I really really really want again. But I suppose with something this clever and unique you honor it for being what it is. And what it is is very special for a restaurant and bar in Tampa.